Visions of Darkness
By A. L. Jackson

I lterally went into this book with a open mind and I can say it got bombarded and I loved every minute of it!

I am not a romantasy reader, or a paranormal reader and I’m not sure where Visions of Darkeness falls genre wise but from the prequel to the last words in this book I was spell bound! I hoped that when I slept my dream began in Tearsith and I to was part of the Laven.

There is the dream world, where Aria and Pax are Laven, where Pax is Aria’s Nol. The one who stands by her side, where together they are a force and when together could over come the wicked ones, the Kruen who rule over Faydor. During the day though they are alone and open, by themselves where it is possible to Kruen to find them and potentially end them.

Now if that doesn’t draw you in nothing can. Vision of Darkness is the story about both Aria, about to turn eighteen and Pax who is older. One of them is in danger and their story is something that holds readers captive.

You learn that this story is so much more than what the prologue tells you. You watch as they fight both in their dreams and awake and it isn’t long before you are telling them to watch out and no don’t go there and each win is worth celebrating but a loss could change everything.

I am an avid reader of this author so when I found out about this new writing journey, I was there and I am so glad I was able to see how she has grown.

If you are looking for something to shake up your reading world grab Visions of Darkness and take this journey with Aria and Pax because it is just beginning!

Is there anything, A.L. Jackson can't write??! As a huge fan of her contemporary romances, I was beyond excited to learn that she was trying her hand at fantasty romance. And let me tell you, this book does not disappoint.

Visions of Darkness is intriguing and a truly fresh take at Fantasy Romance. I couldn't help but be fascinated by the characters, storyline, and world building. I especially loved the forbidden romance aspect. Fair warning, Pax and Aria are going to steal your heart. And I, for one, couldn't wait to see how their story would unfold.

Visions of Darkness is the first book in the Darkness series, and after that cliffhanger ending, I certainly can't wait to find out what will happen next. If you're looking for a well written and unique fantasy romance with no shortage of action and intrigue, you won't want to miss this all-new story from A.L. Jackson.

Thank you to Valentine PR and NetGalley for the E-ARC of this book!

I give this book between a 3.75-4 stars overall. I found the premise of the novel super interesting and had a lot of potential to be something great.

The pacing in this book was done well and I didn’t feel like the book dragged at any point during the story which was really well done. I also found the characters to be interesting and easy to like/connect with. The world building was well done (Tearsith) and I really enjoyed the fantastical elements that made this story into a fantasy world.

Onto the things I didn’t love. Firstly, our main character Aria is freshly 18 (literally starts the book at 17) and is in love with a full adult man who is also into her (for years btw) which gave me a little bit of the ick. He was hot tho for a mmc but like also maybe don’t make him 22? Secondly, even though it was an adult novel it read very YA including the intimate scenes which felt weird to read (good for them though). Lastly, I feel like this book could’ve very easily been a standalone. Will I read book 2 when it comes out? Probably. But I liked how it ended before the final chapter.

I definitely would recommend this book to others if they’re looking for an urban fantasy with good pacing, high stakes, and a little bit of adventure.

A.L. Jackson's "Visions in Darkness" is a captivating Romantasy debut that seamlessly blends the real world with a fantasy realm. Aria and Pax live separate lives in the US during the day, but their realities converge at night when they enter this alternate world, where they were chosen to be each other’s Nol (Soulmate). As they sleep, they work together to fight the sinister Kruen, who feed on human sins and chaos.

I was swept away by Jackson's masterful world-building, effortlessly navigating between the real world and the mystical realm of Faydor. The concept of Aria and Pax experiencing their dark, magical adventures only in their dreams added a unique layer to the story.

Their slow-burn romance was intense and angsty, with a palpable desire between them. As they navigated the rules of their kind and confronted the dangers threatening Aria's life, I found myself eagerly anticipating their inevitable union.

The cliffhanger ending has left me eager for the next installment. I highly recommend "Visions in Darkness" to romance enthusiasts open to a touch of fantasy. While high fantasy fans might be hesitant due to the blend of genres, I found the balance to be perfect.

A.L. Jackson has once again proven why she's a favorite author of mine, and I'm excited to explore more of her Romantasy world.

This was my first book from this author and while I did enjoy parts of it others really didn't work for me. There was way too much explaining what was happening when the author had already showed us what was happening. I liked the urban setting but wish the fantasy world had been developed more. And I also wish the romance had more depth. Too much relied on the fact that they were mates and this is one area I wish we had been shown more than told.

*4.5

I think this is the authors first fantasy and it was good. I still don't fully understand the world but I imagine more understanding will come in the next book. I just love a chosen one in fantasy. Aria is so special and I love that Pax will do anything to protect her.

I received an arc from valentine pr.

I love that Visions of Darkness is a romantasy based in the real world. Aria is pulled into a world called Tearsith & Faydor the she falls asleep. Her soulmate, Pax, in that world. Because their souls are abound, they are stronger together. This has such an urban fantasy feeling to it. Be aware that in the human world, the story is told through first person POV, and when Aria is in other world fighting demons called the Kruen. Pax was protective of Aria, who was a well written heroine. I enjoyed the plot, the world that AL Jackson created, and the romance. I did not appreciate the cliffhanger, but that is a me thing since I hate them to begin with. Now I have to wait for the next book.

Thank you to AL Jackson and Valentine PR for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A.L. Jackson has stepped into romantasy and I could not be happier! Visions of Darkness has such a fun and unique premise that I was hooked immediately.

Aria and Pax have never met in person, but every night when they close their eyes they find themselves in Tearsith fighting the evil forces only they can see. While they both live in the real world, they are forbidden to ever meet... that is, until Aria's safety is at risk and Pax has no choice but to find her.

I could not get enough of this book. Aria and Pax griped me from page one and I did not want to put this story down. I loved the forbidden nature of their love story and the journey they went on to finding each other. Add in the beautiful lyrical way ALJ tells their story, and the plot builds on itself as you and the characters learn more about each other, the creatures they are fighting and their plot to hurt those they love.

Aria and Pax are the definition of fated mates. The love they have for each other could easily be felt and I ate it up like catnip. The way Pax was focused solely on protecting and cherishing Aria was perfect and I love how Aria provided the final push that had Pax succumbing to their chemistry.

Visions ends on a cliffhanger and I am excited to see where the rest of the story goes. I need more of Aria and Pax!

Visions of Darkness is a unique read that is great for readers who enjoy a romance-focused book set in a fantasy world.

🖤 eARC review 🖤
Release date: January 7, 2025

What to expect:
🖤 Dark fantasy romance
🖤 1st & 3rd person, dual POV
🖤 Forbidden romance
🖤 Modern day
🖤 Chosen one
🖤 One bed
🖤 Slow burn

Visions of Darkness follows two soulmates, Aria and Pax—by day they are living their separate, "normal" lives in the human world and by night they are transported into a nightmare world to fight a magical war at each other's sides. These demons, called Kruen, plague the minds of vulnerable humans and only gifted ones like Aria and Pax can destroy them. This nightmare world begins to seep into Aria's waking world when she begins hallucinating and her powers begin to grow. Pax must decide if he'll do the forbidden to save his soulmate—join her in the real world.

The second half of this book is ultimately what bought me into the story—I enjoyed the forbidden, slow burn romance between Aria and Pax. I like the ways in which their lives mirrored each other, and their actions felt believable for characters of their age (Aria is 18, Pax is 22).

This book is A.L. Jackson's romantasy debut (she is a well-known contemporary romance writer), so with any debut there comes challenges. The first half of this book, especially the world building and pacing, were hard to follow. Once I felt "settled" into the world (~50% in), I felt I could enjoy the story because I had "bought into" the relationship between Aria and Pax. If you don't connect with the romance in this story, you will likely struggle with this read if you focus too heavily on the fantasy aspects.

I love when a cliffhanger gets you excited for the next book, so I am looking forward to seeing how A.L. Jackson continues this story!

A sincere thank you to A.L. Jackson for this eARC ahead of its release.

And I whispered, “I won’t. You are what my heart knows.” 🖤

This is my second time reading A.L. Jackson, and I can already say it won’t be the last. This book immediately locked me in and I couldn’t manage to put it down. It breaks your heart, and then heals it. Fated mates? Check. Morally grey male main character? Check. Touch her and die? Check. It checks every box down to fated mates. It’s captivating, and poetically beautiful. I cannot wait to see more romantasy from A.L. Jackson and what’s to come next following Visions of Darkness! 🖤 I absolutely loved reading Aria and Pax’s story.

AL Jackson tackles romantasy with Visions of Darkness and I loved it!

Im a big fan of AL Jackson's small town romances and this was intriguing to me. I loved the different style of writing that she takes on this but I also loved how easy to was to read. It has world building, romance, adventure, tensions, but it's easy to read and doesn't drag. I loved the romance the twists and turns that this book had. It's engaging, fantastic and magical. A. must read for romance fantasy readers!

When Aria Rialta falls alseep she is pulled in a different world. A world called Tearsith & Faydor to defeat the Kruen and protect the humans. Pax is in that world too and is her Sol. Their souls are bound, making them stronger together but when on Earth there’s a different battle she will face. What happen’s if the two worlds collide? I won’t say much more it if your a fan of mortal instruments this has that vibe some. This is told in first person in the human world and third person for the Kruen world by both characters. It goes back and forth between the two to help explain the full story. Get ready for a romantasy filled with action, adventure, mystery and budding love that ends on quite the cliffhanger.

"Visions of Darkness" by A.L. Jackson offers a captivating blend of forbidden love and dark urban fantasy, pulling readers into a world where two realms collide.

Aria Rialta’s existence is split between reality and the nightmare world of Faydor. Her intense, dangerous connection with Pax, her soulmate, adds layers of tension and emotional depth to this story. Their love, cursed by the very world they fight to protect, is as fiery as it is tragic, keeping readers hooked on every twist and turn.

Aria and Pax are constantly on edge, aware that their love could cost them everything, but their undeniable chemistry makes it impossible to turn away from each other.

The story starts out a little slow and dark as the other realms of Tearsith and Faydor are revealed. The pace picks up once the impending danger of a new foe forces Pax to find Aria outside of their dream reality. A.L. Jackson's lyrical writing style truly shines in these moments, with her staccato-style sentence structure amplifying the depth of emotion between the characters and tattooing it onto your heart.

There are moments of true brilliance in this tale, especially when Aria’s power begins to awaken further, and the scope of the conflict expands. The development of her power hints at even more thrilling confrontations to come in the series, with increased focus on the mysteries of the fantasy world.

While some elements of the plot may feel familiar to fans of the genre, the compelling characters make it stand out and leave you wanting more.

Overall, this is a fascinating start to a series that promises to deliver even more heart-pounding action and romance. If you're a fan of forbidden love and dark urban fantasy, this book is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC

I loved AL Jackson’s entry into fantasy. This world is set in the real world at day and a place fighting evil at night. Aria is the badass woman we all strive to be but she’s so misunderstood by her family because of what happens to her at night. Pax is her rock and the best protector. They’re fighting evil stronger than they ever have faced and it puts everything into question. I cannot wait for the next one!

This book pulled me in from the start, grabbed me, and wouldn’t let me go, even when it broke my heart… and healed it.
I love urban fantasy, and this premise really got to me. I would very much like this to be true.

Aria and Pax are Laven, destined to live a normal life while awake and to fight evil when asleep. For that, they’re transported to Faydor, where they fight the Kruen—evil forces who prey on the most vulnerable and susceptible—every night. Together.

However… The rules clearly state there can never be anything between them. Except when they get hurt in the dream world, they’re hurt in real life too, leading Aria’s parents to jump to conclusions and putting her in very real danger.
With that, how could Pax ever stay away?

The connection between them was the most beautiful thing to me. The way they’re so in tune with each other is soul-deep. It’s the conflict between what they have to do and what they want, between knowing it’s wrong and feeling it’s right, that will keep you turning the pages and making you feel more and more.
I fell in love with both of them..

The awake and dream worlds cross paths when evil sets its eye on Aria. It needs to end her because she’s different and threatens its existence. But her real strength is her empathy—and I will say this: the store scene had me crying. It was very dark and very real at the same time, and it made me wish for Laven.

It won’t be easy for Aria and Pax, but they can literally overcome anything as long as they’re together. Other people may not get them and may call them wrong and forbidden, but the book makes you see that it doesn’t matter. And it’s together that they fight and vanquish one evil…
But with that ending? More is coming, and I can’t wait.

Risking it all for the person you love when you know there’s a chance you’ll never be together… is special. It’s a soul calling to its matching soul and a heart calling for its counterpart. It’s beautiful. It’s forever. Asleep or awake, you know that’s who Pax and Aria are.

Visions of Darkness by A.L. Jackson is unlike anything I’ve ever read. This debut fantasy completely captivated me with its unique premise and richly woven dual world timeline.

The story follows Aria and Pax, “Laven” who are transported to the mystical realm of Faydor while asleep to battle the sinister Kruen (beings who whisper ill intentions into human minds). The forbidden romance between Aria and Pax, two souls pulled toward each other despite being told they can never meet while they’re awake, had me hooked. Aria’s rare and extraordinary powers added even more intrigue, especially as she becomes hunted and Pax steps in to protect her while they’re awake.

With danger, mystery, and a love story that defies the odds, this book had me turning the pages nonstop. A.L. Jackson has delivered a stunning fantasy debut that’s emotional, gripping, and truly unforgettable. Highly recommend!

Once again I am thrilled when a long-time favorite author of mine steps out of her usual to give us a fresh story that I couldn't get enough of. With Visions of Darkness, A.L. Jackson puts on her romantasy hat and delivers a book that is enthralling from the very first words. I loved the premise of certain chosen ones being part of two separate existences, one while awake and the other while sleeping. A very interesting idea where our couple, Aria and Pax, are tethered souls while in Tearsith, and then battle evil in Faydor and have the scars to prove it. Then while awake, they live a more mortal life but are still standouts with their unusual eyes and harsh wounds that are inexplicably present after a supposed good night's sleep. But neither Aria nor Pax nor any of the other members of their otherworldly family ever really sleep well as despicably beings continue to ravage the world as we know it seeping into the minds of humans and destroying good people.

The pace is perfect and for me, explanations and terms used never feeling too foreign. I appreciated that Jackson didn't try and create a world that would be hard to fathom. Instead, she uses the evil that is sadly present everywhere as more of an explanation of why people have certain thoughts and how we need to understand that maybe it's not of their doing. At least that's what I took away from the fact that Aria is forever misunderstood by her family and how they continue to try and save her by institutionalizing her over and over again. That days away from turning 18, she finds within herself a new power that has only been seen in Tearsith a few times in the past and now with Pax, her Nol, by her side even awake, so much more needs to be accepted as they break every rule and forge a new future together. Or do they?

Jackson keeps us on our toes throughout and just when I thought all going to be ok with Aria and her new life, we get the last scene and my jaw truly dropped to the floor. I wasn't expecting that abrupt ending but cannot wait to see where Aria's path will lead her and if she'll ever really be settled within modern-day Earth or the tumultuous Faydor. It's an adventure that has many twists and turns and enough emotion and gutwrenching moments to keep my heart and mind fully engaged. I took my time with this one and savored every line as the forever kind of love between Pax and Aria kept my soul singing.

I often remark that books like these challenge my confused old brain but perhaps that is changing when I get to read wonderful stories like Visions of Darkness where I'm thrust into an unknown world where love is undoubtedly always the answer. The slow-burn romance between Pax and Aria is filled with the kind of obstacles most of us never have to face yet when they finally succumb to crossing that line between following the rules of their origins and taking that desperate leap to real bliss, I was beyond thrilled and hope their soulmate status will forever be their guide. Only time will tell.

5 big stars!

This was my first fantasy book and I enjoyed it. I don’t have a lot to compare my reading experience to in terms of fantasy books. I loved the premise of the story with awake world and asleep world. The fated mate part of the story was amazing. I love this author and I read most of her contemporary romance books and decided to give this book a chance even though fantasy isn’t a genre I usually read. Thank you for the opportunity to read this early!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Visions of Darkness by A.L. Jackson is a mixed third and first person dual-POV paranormal romance. When Aria sleeps, her mind is sent to a different plane that lets her fight demons that cause pain and suffering in the waking world. Her partner is Pax, a young man who would do anything for her, including breaking the rule that states they can never meet in the flesh.

Two aspects of this story will be hardline ‘no’s for some readers. There is a four year age difference between Pax and Aria with the story opening right before Aria’s eighteenth birthday and Pax is twenty-two. We learn from the narration that the two have been paired off since Aria was four and Pax was eight, with Pax taking on the role of her protector almost since the beginning, making the two childhood friends who have had years to get to know each other. While nothing happens until Aria turns eighteen, there is very clear romantic tension between them from the moment we meet Pax. The other detail is the use of mental health facilities at the beginning and Aria’s parents being convinced she has a chemical imbalance due to her injuries from her other life slaying demons. I go back and forth on my own feelings regarding using this set-up for contemporary fantasies and romance, so I would understand if a different reader wanted to give this a pass.

This is a darker paranormal romance and has brief scenes that could be triggering, particularly CSA and domestic abuse. They are quite short and a lot of it is more of an implication rather than an actual depiction, but they do push the story into having darker themes. Aria also has some feelings of abandonment due to her parents’ refusal to listen to her and their insistence that she be sent to a mental health facility while she is still a minor despite her insistence that she’s fine. Pax’s own family life is one rife with abuse and isolation, largely perpetuated by his father.

The romance between Pax and Aria is just on the verge of starting by the time the book opens as Aria is finding it harder to keep her feelings to herself and Pax can only hold himself back so long when they are physically next to each other. Because they have a shared history and are partners fighting demons, there is an implicit trust there. I like it when there is pre-established trust in a darker romance because that means I can more easily believe that if one party wants to stop anything, the other person will actually listen. Pax and Aria do fit neatly within that as demonstrated by Pax saying ‘no’ at one point and Aria listening.

Content warning for brief implications of CSA, mentions of domestic and child abuse, and mentions of self-harm

I would recommend this to fans of darker paranormal romances and readers who prefer pre-established friendships in their speculative romances

This book had me hooked on the first chapter. Aria and Pax will pull on your heartstrings and have you rooting for them to succeed. So many things happen to each of them and yet they have never met in real life and they never can, or can they? Things start to happen that has Aria and Pax both terrified about what is coming. They both are very powerful but will they be strong enough to beat the Ghoul and win? It ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you begging to read book two, I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.